Door closer and check.



0. C. RIXSON.

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28,1915.

Patentedl May 14, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

l0. C. RIXSON.

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28.1915.

1,266,320. Patented May14,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

OSCAR C. RIXSON, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK.

DOOR CLOSER AND CHECK.-

Application filed July 28, 1915.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, Oso-rn C. Rixsow, acitizen kof the lUnited States, residing at N ew Rochelle, in the,county of lWestchester and State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Door Closers and Checks7 of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to checks or to combined closers and checks fordoors and the like, of the type which comprises a cupshaped orcylindrical shaped casing which houses a spindle, cylinder, and areciprocating piston which retards the movement of the door byalternately drawing` in and discharging a suitable liquid from itscylinder7 upon rotation of the spindle. The invention has for itsobjects the provision of a check or a closer and check of this characterwhich is of a simple and compact construction. which is positive in itsoperation, and which may be cheaply and economically manufactured.

Accordingly, the invention contemplates arranging the cylinder andspindle in parallelism within the casing and connecting these parts sothat they will rotate together, the cylinder virtually forming anextension of the spindle. are also preferably provided, which copcratewith stops on the spindle and cylinder as well as stationary abutmentson the casing, so that upon the rotationof the spindle and cylinder Aineither direction the spring will be wound up and placed under tension.The piston within the cylinder is preferably constructed to rotate withthe cylinder and is reciprocated by suitable linkage mechanism uponrotation of the spindle and cylinder in either direction.

The invention also contemplates the combinations and constructions whichwill be hereinafter set forth in the specification and particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings:

Figure l shows in elevation my improved form of door closer and checkshowing a portion of a door and door casing;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same;

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section through the casing `and theactuating parts of the door closer and check inclosed therein;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Suitable clutch members Patented May 14C, 1918.

Serial No. 42,249.

Fig. 4e is a plan of Fig. 3, with the top or cover of the casingremoved;

Fig'. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, lookingdownwardly;

F ,6 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the lower clutch member;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper clutch member;

Fig. S is a detail showing in elevation the upper clutch member and itsassociated parts; and` Fig. 9 is a detail of the cam groove and thefollower block.

Referring' first toligs. l and 2, a portion of a door casing is shownand designated l, which surrounds a swinging door 2, which is secured tothe easing` as by the hinges 3. The door closer and check is secured tothe door and door casing preferably adjacent the i3 ner upper end of thedoor, and comprises a substantiallyv cylindrical or cup-shaped casing 4,having integral legs or plates 5 extending laterally therefroi'n, whichrest against the door and are secured thereto by the screws G. Thecup-shaped casing` is provided with a cover T held in place by screws 7.Projecting through the cover is a spindle having' a squared end 8 uponwhich is mounted a. crank arm 9. .Secured to the other end of the crankarm is an extensible link lO which is connected to a short link 12having a pivoted bearing in a plate 13 carried by the door casing, thegeneral construction thus far described, being similar to the door checkat present used.

As shown in Fig. 5, the cover T is provided with a centrally disposedupstanding boss7 which forms a bearing for the cylindrical portion 9 ofthe spindle. rlhe spindle which does not extend to the bottom of thecasing has a cylindrically-shaped lower end forming a disk l0 of alarger diameter than the other parts thereof over which is fitted theopen end of a hollow cylinder ll. The cylinder ll is preferably securedto the part l0 by forcing portions of the cylinder into suitablerecesses or apertures formed in the disk l0, which construction providesa rigid joint between these parts and constrains them to rotatetogether.' The portieri l2 of the spindle intermediate the parts 9 andlO is of ya somewhat irregular shape being substantially rectangular invshape and has proico jocting laterally therefrom an arm or nger 13, thepurpose ot' which will be later described. The cylinder 11 is closed atits lower end and is preferably made from tube steel which requires nomachining of the parts. Secured to the inner face of the bottoni ot thecylinder, is a dislr 11 and to the outer tace a dish 15, these partsbeing secured in place by rivets 16. The disk 14 provided with asuitable 'valve opening upon which a ball 17 seats and a strap 18prevents the ball 1'? from being displaced. The bottom of the cylinderand the plate 15 are provided with apertures 17 alining with the valveopening in the dish 14: whereby communication is established with theannular chamber 19 surrounding the cylinder 11. The disk 15 carries adownwardly projecting sleeve 15 which tits over a centrally disposedcylindrically-shaped valve body or casing 2O which passes into theinterior ot' thc casing through a suitable centrally disposed opening inthe bottom of the casing. Communicating with a chamber 21 in the valvebody, is an orice 21 leading from the interior of the cylinder 11. Thesize of thisI orice is controlled by a needle valve 22 threaded into thevalve body 20, which regulates the speed of displacement of the liquidtrom the cylinder as will be later reierred tol laterally dis posedoutlets 21 connect the chamber 21 with the annular chamber 19 throughsuitable openings in the sleeve Mounted upon the sleere 15 is a clutchmember 25, which will be later referred to, and which similar to thesleeve 15, is provided with suitable recesses 2G, communicating with theoutlets 24: so that the liquid passing through these outlets may have atree passage into the chamber 19.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder 11 is a piston 2T. The chamber 19 islled with a suitable liquid, as oil, to a level with the lower end 10 orthe spindle. 1t will therefore be seen that when the piston 2T movesupwardly, the vacuum created will cause the ball 17 to be lifted :tromits seat and the liquid within the chamber 19 will tlow into thecylinder. llhen the piston moves downwardly, the pressure upon the ball17 will cause it to close and the liquid is forced through the orice 21into the chamber 21 in the valve body 20, from which itl again flowsinto the chamber 19 through the outlets 2e and recesses 26 in 'theclutch member By adjusting the size of the orifice which is controlledby the needle valve 22, the retarding action ot the piston may beregulated to a nicety.

Surrounding the cylinder 11 and positioned within the chamber 19 is aspiral torsion spring 30. The upper end of this spring is secured to aclutch member 31. This mcmberns shown in detail in Fig. 7

consists of a picco of sheet metal which is stamped into substantiallysegmental shape and is provided along one edge with a flange 32 andalong the opposite edge with a lug .33 and an ear 34. The upper end ofthe spring passes through the channel provided by the flange 32 and theparts 33 and 3l, and extends up through an opening 35 formed adjacentone end of the member. The ear 315: isthen bent against the spring tosecure the clutch member rigidly to it. The end ol the spring whichentends through the opening 35 is designated 3S and projects asufficient distance to be engaged by the finger 13 carried by thespindle. Extending from the inner side wall of the casing is a. stop 39which, upon the movement ot the. clutch member 31 in one direction, isadapted to be engaged by the lug 33 to prevent further rotation of theclutch member 31 in oney direction.

The clutch member which is ot cast metal, is loosely mounted forrotation upon the sleeve 15 and is. provided with two lugs 11 and l2;the lug 11 being arranged above the lug 42 and adapted to engage with aprojection extending downwardly trom the dislr 15. r1`he lug 12 isadapted to engage with a stationary stop d5 projecting upwardly trom thebottom of the casing. The bottoni coil of the spring 30 is ot' a reduceddiameter and its extreme end is turned upwardly to engage against ashoulder formed by the lug d2 carried by the .clutch member 25.

The piston 27 is adapted to be reciprocated by the followingconstruction. Formed in the inner wall or the casing l adjacent itsupper end, are two cam tracks L16, each extending half way around thecasing, as will be clear from Fig. 9. r1`he cover 7 is also providedwith similar cam tracks 4G which project downwardly from the coter andare arranged in parallel relation to the trac-lis 416 providing a camgroove in which is positioned a follower block 4:7, the outer tace ofwhich is curved, as at 48, so as to follow the circular curvature of theinner wall of the groove. This block is substantially triangular inshape as shown in Fig. 9, the face 4 -9 thereof, however, being slightlycurved and the apex opposite this face being somewhat rounded to permitthe block to roch and obtain a relatively long bearing surface as willbe referred to in the description or the operation of the device. Thefollower block 47 is connected to the piston by means of a flat linl 50substantially triangular in shape and having a neck portion 51 uponwhich the follower block is pivoted. The part 12 of the spindle isprovided with a slot 52 in which the flat portion 50 ot this link isadapted to ride as the same is reciprocated. rThis slot does not passcompletely through the lower part 10 of the spindle, nor through thepart from which the linger 13 projects, and the link is provided with astraight edge 51, which during the upward movement of the link Ouided bythe wall of the slot.

The operation of the' door check and closer is as follows: Assuming thatthe door is opened in a direction to cause the rotation of the spindle Sand cylinder' 11 in a counter'- cloekwise direction as viewed in Figs.2, 4 and 0. The finger 13 engages the end 38 of the spring whichprojects through the clutch member 31 and rotates the clutch member 31,the lug` leaving the stationary stop 39 upon the casing. The lowerclutch member remains with the lug 42 in engagement with the stop 45 onthe casing, and as the rotation of the spindle is continued, the springwill be placed under tension until the door is fully opened. During thisrotation of the spindle, the follower block t7 rides upon one of the camtracks 4G lifting the link and the piston 27. During this movement.v thelifting of the piston since the ball lvalve 17 is open, permits thefree4 passage of the liquid into the cylinder. When the door is releasedand is returned to its closed position under the tension of the spring30, the upper face of block 47 rides upon one of the cam tracks 46 andwill force the link 5l) together with the piston downwardly. The speedof downward movement of the piston is controlled by the adjustment ofthe needle valve 22, since the liquid which has entered the cylindermust be exhausted through the restricted orifice 21', since the ballvalve 17 is closed. The door therefore returns slowly to its closedposition. The liquid or oil after it passes beyond the needle valve 22flows freely into the casing through the exhaust or outlets Q4 and 26.During this downward movement of the piston, the upper face 49 of thefollower block exerts a considerable pressure against the cam track 46and it is for this reason that the face e9 of the follower block is onlycurved slightly so that a broad bearing is provided which will moreeectually resist the wear due to the rubbing contact between thissurface and the cam trac-k. During the downward movement of the piston,there is also a tendency for the outer curved face e8 of the followerblock to ,press against the inner kwall of the cam groove and 'it is forthis reason that the surface of the follower block is curved to conformto the curvature of this wall so that the follower block will slide morefreely thereover and will not become unduly worn by the friction betweenthe parts.

Assuming that the closer and check is attached to a door which isdoublek acting and the spindle 8 is rotated in a clockwise direction asviewed in Figs. 2, e and 6, the nger 13 which rotates with the spindlethen moves away from the projecting end of `thespring 30 and the tensionof the spring willhold the lug 33 on the clutch member againstthe stop39. The projection 44 on the disk 15 engages the lug 41 upon the clutchmember 25 to rotate it in a clockwise direction. Since the end of thespring 30 is fastened to the clutch member, the spring will again beplaced under tension as the door is opened. The action of the checkingdevice is similar under these conditions.

The liquid used in the chamber 19 is usually one which has lubricatingqualit-ies, such' as oil, andthe link 50 sliding in the slot in thespindle, as well as the bearing for the lower end of the cylinder andother moving parts of the door closer and check, will therefore bethoroughly lubricated so that it is unnecessary to devote any care tothe check after it has been once installed.

r`Whi`le in the specic embodiment of the invention shown,` the cylinderis in axial alinement with the spindle. and the pistou is mounted forrotation with the cylinder, yet it is evident that in obviousmodifications of the check, the cylinder may be eccentric to the spindleand the piston may be reciprocated without rotating with the spindle andit is my intention that such constructions will come within the scope ofthe invention where it includes the fundamental feature thereof, namely,a spindle and a depending cylinder secured thereto, whose axis issubstantially parallel to the spindler` which parts together form asingle operating inember. f

If desired the spring which rotates the spindle may be omitted and thedevice used as a checking mechanism alone either with doors haring othermeans for closing them or with similar members whose movement in onedirection should be retarded.

It is evident that the speci-'fic construction of the various parts vofthe device may bc modified and the relative arrangement of parts changedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.. Hence lwould'have it understood that I do .not wish to confine myself to theconstruction herein shown and described, but only by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

l.y In a door closer and check, a casing. a spindle,v a cylinder mountedfor rotation therewith. a piston in said cylinder, resilient means forrotating said spindle and cylinder in one direction. and means forrotating said piston with said cylinder and for reciprocating it whensaid spindle is rotated.

Q. In a door closer and check, a casing. a spindle, a cylinder mountedfor rotation therewith, resilient means for rotating said spindle andcylinder in one direction. a piston in said cylinder, a cam track onsaid casing, and a member rotating with saidy spindle engaging said canitraclr :tor reciprocating said piston.

3. 1n a door closer and check, a substantially cylindrically-shapedcasing, a spindle and a cylinder having a closed bottoin de pending'from said spindle, said spindle and cylinder being inounted tor rotationin said casing, a cover for said casing, a bearingin said cover tor saidspindle, a bearing in said casing Jfor the lovrer end of said cylinder,a

sirinf:r for rotatin.0` said siindle and cvlin- C* C der, a piston insaid cylinder, ineans for reciprocating said piston upon rotation ofsaid cylinder, `and valvular nieans associated With said piston andcylinder tor admitting a luid to and discharging it from said cylinderupon reciprocation of said piston.

el. In a door closer and check, a substantially cylindricallyshapedcasing, a spindle and a cylinder in axial alineinent rotatably mountedtherein, a cover tor said casing, said spindle passing through anopening in said coter, a bearing in said casing for the loafer end oitsaid cylinder, a spring for rotating said spindle and cylinder, a canitrack in said casing and nieans rotating With said spindle engaging saidcani track for reciprocating said piston.

5. ln a door check, a substantially cylindrically-sliaped casing, aspindle and a cylinder in axial alinenient rotatably inounted therein, acover for said casing, an annular cani groove on the inner tace ot saidcasing' foi-ined by substantially parallel cani tracks on said casingand cover, respectiif'ely, a part adapted to ride in said cani groove,and ineans rotating with said spindle for connecting said piston to saidpart.

6. In a door closer and check, a substantially cylindricallyshapedcasing, a spindle and cylinder in axial alineinent rotatably mountedtherein, a. cover for said casing, said spindle passing through anopening in said cover, a spring for rotating said spindle and cylinder,an annular Cain groove in the inner tace oi' said casing and cover,respectively, a follower bloei; adapted to ride in said cani groove, andineans rotating with said spindle for connecting said piston to saidfollower block.

7. ln a door check, a casing, a spindle and a cylinder mounted forrotation in said casing, said cylinder having a closed bottoni, and aineinber secured to the bottoni of said cylinder tor rotatablysupporting the lower end oit the cylinder, and a bearing on the casingfor the upper end of said spindle, said spindle projecting through saidbearing.

S. ln a door check, a casing, a spindle, a cylinder having a closedbottom secured at its upper end to the lower end of said spindle and inaxial alineinent therewith, a cylindrical valve body extending into thelower end of said casing, a sleeve mounted on the bottoni of saidcylinder fitting over said 1,2ee,3ao l valve body` said Valve bodyhaving other openings therein leading to the chainber orined by thecasing.

fr?. ln a door closer and check, a spindle and a cylinder inounted forrotation therein, clutch nicinbers in said casing, a spring connected atits ends to said clutch inenibers and stops carried by said spindle,cylinder and Vcasing `for causing said spring to be placed under tensionirrespective of the direction oit rotation oli the spindle and cylinder.

l0. In a door closer and checar` a casing, al spindle mounted in saidcasing, a spring in said casing, a clutch ineinber comprising anarcuate-shaped piece having an opening therein through which one end ofthe spring passes, a lug carried by said ineinber, a stop on said casingadapted to co-act therewith, a linger carried by said spindle adapted toco-act with the projecting end ot the springx and nieans connected Withthe other end ol' the spring for holding it under tension.

l1. In a door closer and check, a casing, a solid spindle, a cylinderopen at one end litting over the lower end of said spindle and in axialalineinent therewith, a piston in said cylinder, an internal Cain grooveon said casing, a follower block riding in said groove. said spindlehaving a slot therein, and a linlt in said slot connecting said blocl;to said piston.

l2. checking mechanism Comprising, a casing, a spindle, a cylindermounted tor rotation tlieretvith, a piston in said cylinder, and ineansfor rotating said piston with said cylinder and tor reciprocating itwhen such spindle is rotated.

i3. A checking niechanisni comprising, a casing, a spindle, a cylinder,niounted for rotation tliei'entitlna piston in said cylinder, a canitrack in saidcasing, and a ineniber rotating With said spindle engagingsaid cani track for reciprocating said piston.

ll. Vln a door closer and check, a spindle and a cylinder having theiraxes parallel, a piston in said cylinder, a casing surrounding saidcylinder, a spring Within said casing surrounding said cylinder forrotating said spindle and cylinder in one direction, means for rotatingsaid cylinder and piston in the other direction, and rneans forreciproca-tingsaid piston upon the rotation of said cylinder and piston.

l5. ln a checking mechanism, a casing, a spindle in said casing, acylinder in said casing parallel lto said spindle, a piston in saidcylinder, a ineinber pivotally connected to said piston, and ineans forreciprocating said ineinber upon rotation of said spindle.

llO

1G. In a checking` mechanism, a casing forming a single compartment, aspindle in said casing, resilient means in said casing for rotating saidspindle in one direction, a cylinder in said casing, a piston in saidcylinder, a member pivotally connected to said piston, and means forreciprocating said member upon rotation of said spindle.

17. In a door check, the combination of a casing, a cylinder therein anda piston in the cylinder, said cylinder and piston being nonrotatablewith respect to each other, and means cooperating with the casing forreciprocatingthe piston upon the rotation thereof.

18. In a door closer and check, a casing, a. spindle, a cylinderattached at its upper end to the lower end of the spindle and adapted torotate therewith, a piston in said cylinder, resilient means forrotatingr the cylinder and spindle in one direction, and means forreciprocating the piston upon rotation of the cylinder and spindle.

19. A checking mechanism having a casing and comprising` a cylinder anda piston therein, and means independent of the cylinder for imparting areciprocating movement to one of said members with respect to the otherupon the relative rotation of either of said members with respect to thecasing.

20. In a door closer and check, a casing, a spindle and cylinder mountedtherein, a spring surrounding said cylinder, a clutch member secured tothe upper portion of said spring, a pair of projections associated Withsaid clutch member, a. stop carried by said casing` adapted to engageone of said projections in one position of said clutch member, a lingercarried by said spindle adapted to engage the other of said projections,a second clutch member rotatably mounted in the lower end of saidcasing, said spring having its other end secured to said clutch member,two lugs on said clutch member, a stop on said casing adapted to engageWith one of said lugs, and a projection carried by the cylinder adaptedto engagewith the other of said lugs whereby upon rotation of thespindle and cylinder in either direction said spring will be placedunder tension.

In Witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of twoWitnesses.

OSCAR C. RIXSON. Vitnesses:

VALDO M. CHAPIN, JosnrH A. BUCKLEY.

copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

